Dental impression tray and holder



Aug. 10, 1937.

L. KALVIN DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY AND HOLDER Filed March 23, 1936 HINVENTOR 1M MIM'M Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 23,

12 Claims.

The present invention relates more especially to a tray and holder for use in making partial dental impressions in plaster, etc., and provides an improved form and construction for trays composed 5 of stifiened readily penetrable flexible sheet or sheet-like material of textile fabric or cellulosic composition or the like, as well as a holder therefor comprising a relatively small number of light but rigidly formed parts arranged in a simple ef- 10 fective manner to enable a dental impression assembly to be made up by a few simple manipulations. For this purpose, my invention contemplates a tray of predetermined shape in respect to a rigidly constructed tray-supporting base or receiver into which the tray may be pressed home by one or more fingers of one hand while it is positively locked in position by a chuck or gripper of improved construction with a slight movement of the other hand. Ancillary to this improved construction and arrangement of parts in tray and holder is a handle of improved construction which is readily manipulated by one hand for rig idly uniting it to the holder; removing it therefrom; or for partial retraction for procuring any desired angular presentation to the tray-support preparatory to its rigid attachment thereto. Specific purposes of the invention will be understood from the following description in reference to the accompanying drawing and from particular features of construction recited in'the claims. In the drawing which illustrates my invention in a form which is inexpensive to make; which facilitates the production of accurate impressions; and furthermore conduces tothe maintenance of sanitary standards, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device with a tray for a partial dental impression installed in readiness for use. 7

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the same. V Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective'view'of'the chuck or' gripper detached.

Figure 5 is a perspective view on -a reduced scale of the combined handle and wrench.

Figure 6 is a medial section of the'set-up as shown in Figure 1, parts being broken away and parts shown in elevation. I

Figure 7 is a medial section transverse to Fig- 56 ure 6 with the dental impression tray removed,

parts being shown in. elevation.

According to the embodimen'tof my invention shown on the drawing, the tray-holder comprises an arcuate tray-supporting plate I, provided with transverse flanges 2, 2, at opposite 1936, Serial No. 70,285 (or. 32-47) ends, an arcuate base plate 3 upon which said arcuate plate I is mounted, a tubular neck 4, and a locking disk 5 connected to the arcuate base plate 3 by said tubular neck, said locking disk being provided with peripheral teeth or notches 6 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The tray-supporting plate I and base plate 3 are constructed'with a curvature corresponding approxi mately to that of the arcuate bottom walls of one or more dental impression trays of predetermined shape to be employed therewith. Such trays may for example be constructed of several layers of sized textile fabric as explained in my prior Patent No. 2,043,294, dated June 9, 1936. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7 of the drawing, th arcuate plate i is provided with upwardly extending guides such as formed for example by fingers I, 'I, which are arranged in fixed relation to each other for receiving a structurally self-competent tray 8 of-w'predetermined form which by being pressed home to the arcuate supporting plate I under a lightpressure applied by two or more fingers of onehand, is positioned by slidably engaging said fingers. In'the form shown on the drawing, said tray 8 is designed for forming partial dental impressions and is preferably constructed of stiffened flexible material shaped to the desired form and provided with an exterior bead or reenfOrcing rib 9 which facilitates the anchoring of the tray in the holderand constitutes one of the contributing features of the present invention. As clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 .of the drawing, the fingers I, "I, are suitably spaced to admit the side wall portions of the bead or rib and to impinge thereonIupon one side or the other in opposition to the chuck or gripper which is constructed as follows for-engaging the bottom wall portion of saidbeadi Referring now to Figures 4' and 7 of the drawing, the arcuate base plate 3 is-provided with a circular recess or depression I 0 and a bore'l I Oscillatabl'y mounted in the recess IO is'a' circular plate or turn-table I2 provided with a stem I4 swivelled'within the bore I I. Projecting upwardly from the circular plate ID are two oppositely disposed arcuate blades I5, I5 each of which-is provided with one or more spurs or gripper points I6, I 6, presented circumferentially-in opposite directions and forming diametrically opposite gaps between the blades I5,

I5. The stem I4 of the chuck or gripper is provided with a square or nut-like end H to fit "the opening 18in one end of a detachable Wrench and handle I9 (see Figure 5);. 'The other end of said wrench and handle is provided with a longitudinal slot Zll'which is widened at 2| to fitsnugly over the cylindrical outer wall 22 of the tubular neck 4, said wrench and handle being preferably constructed of flat metal having a thickness which snugly fills the peripheral groove which is formed between plate 3 and disk 5. Projecting from one of the fiat sides of the wrench and handle and at opposite edges of the slot 20 adjacent to the widened outer portion 2| of said slot are one or more lugs 23, 23, which are constructed to interlock with the notches or teeth 6 of the disk 5, the upper surface of said disk forming one of the fiat circular walls of the peripheral groove. It will now be understood that by applying the handle-wrench I!) to the squared end I! of stem I4, the diametrically opposite gaps between gripper blades l5, I5, may be brought into alinement with the notches between paired fingers 1, 1, so that when the tray is pressed into position in the tray holder, the side wall portions of the reenforcement rib or bead engage the fingers 1 1, which serve to guide the bottom wall portion thereof into position between the spurs or gripper points [6, l6. At the same time, it will be seen that by holding the bottom wall of the arcuate tray in close contact with the end flanges 2, 2, of the arcuate plate I, while moving the wrench-handle to impart an angular displacement to the gripper points or spurs l6, IS, in either direction, two of said points or spurs are caused to penetrate the reenforcing bead or rib on the bottom while the tray is held against angular displacement by the opposition of two of the fingers I, l, acting against the side wall portions of the head or rib 9. Due to the nature of the stiffened sheet material together with the shape and arrangement of the points or spurs: l6, I6, this interlocking connection between the gripper and the tray, will be self-sustaining until an opposite movement retracts them from traygripping position. After the tray has been chucked in the holder, the. slotted end of the wrench handle is inserted part-way into the peripheral groove between plate 3 and disk 5 and adjusted to the desired angular position in relation to the tray. The wrench handle is then further inserted to carry the lugs 23, 23, into interlocking engagement with the notches 6 in disk 5. The assembly thus completed provides a substantially rigid set-up which is light and sturdy; readily manipulated; and convenient to use in securing the desired dental impressions.

I claim:

1. A dental impression tray holder comprising a tray-supporting base, a plurality of tray-engaging fingers presented upwardly from said traysupporting base in fixed relation to each other, to

'form a cradle for engaging opposite side walls of a dental tray of substantially rigid form to locate it in a predetermined position with respect to said tray-supporting base, and means movable into and out of locking engagement with the bottom of said tray for pulling the tray into and holding it in its predetermined position in said cradle.

2. In a dental impression tray holder, the combination with a tray receiver, of means for anchoring a tray in said tray receiver, and a handle pivotally mounted on said tray receiver and movable endwise between advanced and retracted positions in respect thereto, said handle and tray holder being provided each with complementary locking elements, interengaging when the handle is longitudinally moved into one of said positions, to lock the handle in the desired angular relation to said tray holder, said handle being freely pivotally movable when it is shifted endwise into 'to receive and hold a tray, of means for anchoring said tray to said tray-supporting plate, said anchoring means including a rotatable head having means for penetrating and clamping said trays and being provided with a stem rotatable in said tray-supporting plate, said stem being operable from below said tray-supporting plate for engaging and releasing the tray.

5. In a, dental impression tray holder, the combination with'a tray holder including an arcuate tray-supporting plate provided with projections constructed and arranged to receive and position a dental impression tray, of a tray-anchoring disk provided with a stem swiveled in the arcuate plate, and a handle for said tray holder adjustable endwise between advanced and retracted positions with respect to said arcuate plate and angularly about the axis of said disk, said handle and tray holder beingrprovided with parts constructed to interlock in one position of said handle for holding the handle in fixed angular position in respect to the tray holder.

6. In a dental impression tray holder, the combination with an arcuate tray-supporting plate provided with projections constructed and arranged to receive a tray in predetermined position with respect to said plate, and means for releasably locking said tray in said predetermined position,an arcuate base attached to said plate and providedwith a tubular neck serving as a pivotal guide for said locking means, a notched disk rigidly united tosaid arcuate base by said tubular neck and forming therewith a peripheral groove, and a fiat handle for said tray holder, said handle being constructed of suitable thickness to slidably fit said peripheral groove and provided with a longitudinal slot at one end for pivotally engaging the cylindrical outer wall of said tubular neck, said handle being provided with laterally-presented spurs movable into and out of interlocking engagement with the notched disk for setting said handle into a desired angular position with respect to said tray.

'7. In a tray holder, the combination with an arcuate tray-supporting plate, of an arcuate base plate secured thereto, said arcuate plate and base plate being provided with a common bore, means for anchoring a tray to said arcuate plate, said anchoring means comprising a gripper disk provided with a stem swiveled in said bore and movable by a,. wrench applied to its outer end.

8. Ina tray holder of the character described, the combination with a tray-supporting plate having tray-engaging fingers projecting in fixed relation to each other for receiving a tray, said tray-supporting plate being provided with a circular opening, and a tray-engaging disk having upwardly-presented pairs of oppositely-presented spurs for penetrating the wall of a tray, said disk being movable about its axis within said opening. 1 I 9. In a dental impression tray holder, the combination with. an arcuate platehaving tray-engaging fingers projecting in fixed relation to each other from the arcuate edges of said plate for receiving a tray in predetermined position in respect thereto, a base plate upon which said 5 arcuate plate is mounted, said arcuate plate and base plate being provided with a central bore and said base plate being additionally provided with a clutch disk spaced axially from said arcuate plate and forming therewith a circumferential groove, a tray-anchoring device provided with a stem swiveled in said bore, and a handle for said tray holder provided with a longitudinal slot for slidably and pivotally mounting the handle in said peripheral groove, said clutch disk and handle being provided with parts movable into and out of interlocking engagement in various angular positions of said handle with respect to said arcuate plate.

10. In a holder for dental impression trays constructed of penetrable material, the combination with a supporting base provided with trayengaging fingers arranged in fixed relative positions for disposing said tray in predetermined position by its insertion into said holder, and a turn plate gripper swiveled in said supporting base about an axis substantially normal thereto, said turn plate gripper being provided with a circumferentially-presented spur for penetrating the wall of said tray, said spur being provided with a wedging surface for drawing said tray toward and anchoring it to said supporting base by a swiveling movement imparted to said turn plate.

11. In a holder for arcuate dental impression trays constructed of penetrable sheet material and provided with an exterior reenforcement rib, the combination with an arcuate supporting plate, of a turn plate swiveled in said supporting plate and having its upper surface depressed with reof a turn plate swiveled in said supporting plate said turn plate being provided with pairs of oppositely-presented wedging spurs projecting above said arcuate plate and movable into and out of penetrating engagement with an interposed reeniorcement on said tray.

12. In a holder for arcuate dental impression trays constructed of stiffened flexible sheet material and provided with a transverse exterior reenforcement rib, the combination with an arcuate plate for supportably engaging said transverse reenforcement rib, said arcuate plate being provided with upwardly-presented end flanges for supportably engaging the arcuate bottom wall of the tray, bifurcated bracket arms presented upwardly from the arcuate edges of said plate for supportably engaging the arcuate walls of the tray on opposite sides of the reenforcement rib, said plate being provided with a circular recess centrally arranged with respect to said bifurcated bracket arms, and a circular gripper plate rotatably mounted in said circular recess, said circular plate being provided with pairs of oppositely-presented wedging spurs projecting above said arcuate plate and oscillatable into and out of penetrating engagement with said reenforcement rib of a dental tray for anchoring said tray to said arcuate plate.

LOUIS KALVIN. 

